After he had enjoyed for some time the honors which fell to him as
chief ruler of the Mongolians, he began to desire further conquests.
He determined to make himself master of all the countries of Central
Asia.
"As there is but one God in heaven," he said, "there ought to be
but one ruler on the earth."
So he gathered an immense army from all parts of his dominion, and
for weeks his subjects were busy making preparations for war. At
length he started for Persia in command of a splendid army. After
gaining some brilliant victories he forced the Persian king to flee
from his capital.
All the rich country belonging to Persia, from the Tigris to the
Euphrates, submitted to the Mongolian conqueror.
Tamerlane celebrated his Persian conquest by magnificent festivities
which continued for a week. Then orders were given to march into
the great Tatar empire of the North. Here Tamerlane was victorious
over the principal chiefs and made them his vassals. In pursuing
the Tatars he entered Russia and sacked and burned some of the
Russian cities. He did not, however, continue his invasion of this
country, but turned in the direction of India.
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